Glass exploded as twenty odd twisted beasts came flying out of the store. Each one adding to the blood-curdling chorus as they charged into the fray, just as badly morphed as the first with warped limbs, patchy fur, bulbous growths and glinting teeth. Cracks and booms echoed as the humans opened fire, but it was already too late as the Ferals slammed into the first defenders. Terrified screams intermingled with cries of feverish joy as the monsters slashed and bit away at their victims.
Others weren’t as lucky, buckshot blowing them away. But they weren’t stopping as the rest continued to leap at their prey, oblivious to their comrade’s screeches.
Ian’s SMG clattered against his shoulder, bullets tearing through one of the charging beasts. It toppled over dead short of a single human. Only for another to fly into her and start hacking away.
A screech shot down his ear. He spun round as a trio of the monsters barraged towards him. Ian let rip and two of the Ferals screamed as their knees shattered, cartwheeling to the ground. But the third merely jerked, eyes wild as it charged at him.
The SMG clicked.
Shit!
Ian’s hand shot for his knife, yanking it out just as the Feral leapt at him, teeth bared hatefully and ready to tear his throat out.
He whacked the gun straight into its mouth as it crashed on top of him. Muscles straining and teeth gritted, he slipped underneath and with a vicious cry plunged the knife into its chest. Its shrieks pounded at his ears as momentum took over, driving the Feral past him and sinking the blade deeper in. The weapon was nearly torn from his grasp as the injured Feral flew into the side of the buildings behind him.
Something crashed against his back like a train, Ian saw the world spin before his shoulder skidded across the ground. He ignored the burning sensation running across it, struggling to get back up to his feet. Something heavy forced him back down and with a desperate cry, he managed to roll onto his back.
The original Feral snarled, saliva-coated teeth dripping as one muscular arm rose upwards. Wildly, Ian whipped the knife back round, sinking it into the Feral’s shoulder. It screeched in agony, the arm dropping. His muscles straining, he planted his boots against it, kicking the freak away. He tried to stumble back up, reach for another magazine but the beast was already back on its feet and lunged for him again. His legs buckled as it shoved him down and its oversized arm snapped back up. He couldn’t stop it this time.
It came flying down, and with a strained yell, Ian snapped his head aside. The ground quaked as the fist struck tarmac.
“Oh come on come on lets me get you!” it begged in broken English, the arm rolling back around. His head flicked out of the way again, knees crumpling as it pressed down further.
He blinked, and that monster was now diving straight towards his face, jaws wide and beckoning for death.
Ian’s knife shot upwards.
The jaws slammed shut on the blade, a surprised murmur creeping out as he fell back, replanting a boot in place and clutching the knife. Growling, the Feral started to chomp down on the metal, trying to eat its way through like a panicking rat.
It was beginning to sink towards him. He desperately willed his arms to straighten, but the shaking limbs continued to buckle.
I… can’t get bit… got to… get it off!
Even as he roared, he couldn’t push it away. With a victorious cheer, the Feral pulled itself back. Ready to slam down and tear h-
It’s head exploded, warm blood splattered all over Ian and into his eyes. His vision went dark as he cried out. Gunshots rang over the screams of Ferals, competing sounds desperate to dominate his hearing. Something slumped over him like a blanket, arms finally crashing down. Instinct demanded him to break free. But his nerve held, and Ian wiped a hand across his eyes.
The Feral stared at him, it’s eyes still and blank. Teeth grinding, he planted his hands on the shoulders and tossed the limp corpse away. Catching a glimpse of a single Feral slumping over dead amongst a mass of bodies.
Human and Feral alike lay dead, caked in blood. Needles began to jab across the surface of his skin, and with a pained groan he tried to suppress the emerging pain.
“Ian?”
Ian stiffened, blinking as the word… no. The voice was processed within his mind, a short, swift process that could only provide the output of a single answer.
It can’t be…
He sat up, head drifting round towards the source, his eyes settling onto what could only be his saviour. A well-built man towered above him, dressed in black combat pants and a hefty camo jacket. His black hair was cut short, but neatly on top his head and he had a light layer of stubble across his face. Hanging in one hand was an old combat rifle, wood dull and even looking burnt in the light.
Ice grey eyes brightened as a gigantic smile erupted across his face, “Ian! You lucky son of a bitch!” he exclaimed, reaching a gloved hand towards him. Ian’s lips peeled back into a sharp grin, “Jack! Sorry I’m late.” His hand clapped against Jack’s, the world blurring again as he was yanked back to his feet. “And thanks.”
Jack’s smile grew even more massive, “Don’t mention it mate. Better late than never eh?”. He slapped Ian’s back, nearly propelling him forward with a widening grin. But then his eyes settled back onto the bodies of the humans intermingled with the bloodied corpses of the Ferals. With that, his smile drained away.
“I… I tried…” Jack stated, his voice wavering. “But by the time I got here…”
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“It’s not your fault.” Ian replied, one eye locked onto the bodies as he scooped up the Sten, pulling back the bolt to find a single bullet lodged in the chamber. They damaged this thing. He cursed to himself. It shouldn’t be jamming now.
He flicked his gaze towards Jack, “We all just got unlucky.” He yanked back on the SMG’s bolt, and the bullet pinged away.
“Still…”
“I know Jack. If I could go back and change this, I would.”
His friend sighed, wiping his hair back, “…at least they won’t change.”
Ian’s eyes drifted away. Change. It was supposed to be an innocent word, one that didn’t mean any harm. But when it came to a world dominated by the Retrovirus, the word instead brought with it fear, dread, paranoia… hatred.
“I suppose you’re right.”
“Jack? Is it over? And who are you?”
That’s…
He swivelled round to find a young woman standing mere feet away from them. Handgun in hand, she wore a pair of tight-fitting denim trousers and a woollen fleece. Her blond hair, whilst cropped short, was still a fair bit longer than that of the two men. She stepped closer, only for her mouth to drop. But in that moment, the surprise was gone. Her jaw clenched as she strode towards Ian. “You bloody asshole!”
He began to backpedal, raising his hands up. “Han- “
Her hand whipped across his face. Recoiling and yelping he staggered back, a hand instinctively reaching for the stinging cheek. His eyes burned, “What the hell was that fo- “
She collapsed into him, arms squeezing like a vice. Threatening to crush him and yet, they were not. He blinked blankly, unable to process it, but with a soft sigh he wrapped his arms back round her. Her head briefly pressed against his shoulder. An oddly soothing feeling compared to his bruised cheek.
It had only lasted a moment before she pulled herself back, scanning his face. “We thought you were dead…”
“Kinda already figured that one out Liana.” Jack chirped.
Liana glared at him, her eyes flashing like steel before returning her attention to Ian. “Christ, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Ian replied, resting a hand onto her shoulder. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“You don’t look it with all that blood!”
Once more, he nearly went blank, “Blood… oh, right.” He wiped his face, the back of his hand stained in ichor as he peeled it away. “Not mine.”
Jack stepped forward with a wary look. “Did you- “
“I’m not bitten.” Ian interrupted him firmly, letting a little bit more bite get into his tone than he planned.
“Alright, just checking.” He replied with a curt nod.
“Err… hello…”
Oh shit! I almost forgot!
In his desperate defence, the thought of Coop had completely vanished. Ian turned back towards the SUV to find the kid leaning round it to get a better view, his face pale and eyes wide with fear. At least he didn’t panic and bolt at the first sign of trouble. He scanned the ground surrounding the SUV, and noticed that no Feral got anywhere near it. That was a small relief, if nothing else.
“It’s alright Coop, come on out.” Ian reassured him in the warmest tone possible, “The Ferals are gone, and these are friends of mine. Jack and Liana.”
As Cooper gingerly stepped out into the street, his eyes darting between the bodies, Ian and his friends, Liana lowered herself down to a single knee and flashed a small, friendly wave. “It’s alright, we’ve known each other for years.”
The boy finally turned away from the killing field and weakly nodded, slowly bringing himself next to but behind Ian. He felt his own features soften, deep down understanding what the poor kid was going through. Carefully, he clasped the boy’s shoulder with a gentle squeeze, and it was only when the boy’s muscles relaxed that he realised how tense he was.
Poor kid’s terrified. At least you got to say goodbye to your Uncle, I…
Ian stiffened, shoving the uncomfortable memory aside as he turned back towards Jack, “What about the others? Did everyone get out alright?”
Jack and Liana shared a look, and before they even said a word Ian knew in an instant that wasn’t true.
“Ed got shot in the head.” Jack woodenly said. “Happened when he tried to hold them off.”
Ian quietly cursed to himself, glancing away from the pair towards the distant buildings. Coldly and shockingly, a part of him didn’t care. His mind wandered back into the past. Ed had spent half of his time with a bottle in hand, the other half tossing insults left and right. But he did have a brutal honesty, one that could not so easily be replaced.
If only I had been faster…
He shoved the thought aside, “Then we better get out, I’m not sure if we got all the Ferals in that pack, but if some got away, they’ll be bac- “
A howl cut through the air like a missile. His ears screeched in protest as he dipped down, teeth clenched. A flick to the side, and his eyes could confirm Jack clutching his ears as Liana half ducked. Her own eyes were aimed at something else…
The painful sound cut short, and with his eardrums buzzing away, he followed her gaze.
Nothing greeted him. Not immediately. Ruined buildings, wrecked cars, the smoky towers… What the hell…
He saw it. Atop one of the more distant rooftops, where a human might have only been a blurred speck in the distance… this was something else. In that shadow of an antenna, it could be around 9 foot tall or more, heavily built. Two bent legs which could have only been digitigrade. But it was not deformed or twisted like the monsters that lay dead around them. Its arms were muscular and even in length. Its legs were just as defined, hefting a barrel of a torso atop them. Something flicked behind it, and he half dreaded some second beast was with it. But it continued to flick and swing. Biting his lips, he realised it was actually a tail. But what stood out most of all was one thing. A wolf shaped head. Again, not morphed or disfigured, but sharp and distinct.
Then it stepped off the roof, the thing vanishing from sight as it fell away.
“Alphas…” Liana hissed softly.
Ian snapped his head round towards his friends, “We need to go. Now.”
“Hurrah to that.” Jack replied. “We’ll take the truck. These guys… won’t be needing it anymore.”
“Go ahead.” Ian replied, looking down at Coop, “Hey, I need you to go with the others in the truck, it’ll be safer in there, alright?”
The boy pulled away, his shoulders tight once again, “But what about you?” he questioned woodenly.
Ian started to back up to the bike, throwing a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll check this. If it doesn’t work, I’ll clamber on the truck.”
Jack was already by the pickup itself, but Liana carefully wrapped an arm round the boy, “Come on, I’ve got a few maps, I think you might help us get to the train station.”
The fear seemed to evaporate, if barely, “The train station?” Coop asked with a faint tremor.
“Yep, got a train waiting for us there.” Liana replied with a smile as she lead him towards the truck.
Satisfied that Liana would keep Coop occupied for a moment, Ian pulled the bike upright. A quick glance confirmed it still had the key. Alright girl… come on. He crossed his fingers and turned the ignition.
The aging bike coughed and wheezed, like a dog unwilling to get up in the morning. But then, with a rumble of victory it snarled into life. Then he could hear the low grumble as the pickup fired up too.
He grinned at the sound of the engines, a little spark of hope catching light within his chest.
It really did look that they were going to-
Knives sank into his chest. He gasped, the blades only cutting deeper in. His hand shot towards them…
The knives withdrew, the pain ceased. He blinked rapidly, finding no wound or blade across his chest, Just… what?
Something banged, “Hey Ian!” Jack shouted, “You alright?”
He snapped up to find that the truck had moved forward, with Jack now leaning out of the cabin.
“I’m fine! Get going!”
Swinging his leg over, Ian settled onto the bike seat. Pulling the clutch, he rolled the throttle back and slowly the bike began to move.
But as he drifted in behind the truck, his thoughts continued to prick at him. What actually happened down there? What was that damn Nyúlfur doing there? And the scientist for that matter?
What did they do to me?
